Reinhardt, TWU Remain Undefated in Softball Tournament Play

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Top-seeded Reinhardt and No. 3 seed Tennessee Wesleyan are set to meet up in the winners' bracket finale in the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Softball Tournament.

The four-day event is being held at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.

Tickets are available and can be purchased by clicking here.

If unable to attend in person, all games will be streamed live online. To watch, click here.

Wednesday's play began with a pair of elimination games. Fourth-seeded Truett McConnell sent No. 8 seed Bryan home with a 5-0 decision as Kyleigh Sanders recorded a two-hit shutout in securing the win.

Hope Azurida drove in five runs to help lead No. 6 seed Columbia to an 8-6, come-from-behind victory to eliminate seventh-seeded Union. Azurida jumpstarted the comeback with a two-run home run in the third.

Whitney Shepherd then turned in a six-hit shutout as Reinhardt picked up the 8-0 win over No. 5 seed Brenau. Eryn Lee and Kylie Freije each drove in a pair of runs for the Eagles.

The last game of the day arguably topped them all in the form of drama as the game went into extra innings tied at 2-all. In the top of the eighth, Bailee Phillips blasted a two-run home run to put Tennessee Wesleyan ahead. However, Megan Armstrong led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, making it a 4-3 contest. Ashley Duke followed with a single, but the Royals could not get a runner off of first as the Bulldogs scored the win.

Thursday's action will begin with two elimination games. Play begins at 11 am.

Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, April 30
Game 1 - No. 5 Brenau (27-15) def. No. 4 Truett McConnell (25-17), 12- 4 (box)
Game 2 - No. 1 Reinhardt (39-8) def. No. 8 Bryan (17-21), 5-3 (box)
Game 3 - No. 2 Johnson (24-13) def. No. 7 Union (15-25), 9-1 (5 innings) (box)
Game 4 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (25-11) def. No. 6 Columbia (24-21), 8-0 (6 innings) (box)

Wednesday, May 1
Game 5 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (26-17) def. No. 8 Bryan (17-22), 5-0 (box) - Bryan eliminated
Game 6 - No. 6 Columbia (25-21) def. No. 7 Union (15-25), 8-6 (box) - Union eliminated
Game 7 - No. 1 Reinhardt (40-8) def. No. 5 Brenau (27-16), 8-0 (5 innings) (box)
Game 8 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (26-11) def. No. 2 Johnson (24-14), 4-3 (8 innings) (box)

Thursday, May 2
Game 9 - No. 6 Columbia (25-21) vs. No. 5 Brenau (27-16), 11 am
Game 10 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (26-17) vs. No. 2 Johnson (24-14), 1 pm
Game 11 - No. 1 Reinhardt (40-8) vs. No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (26-11), 3 pm
Game 12 - Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 5 pm

Friday, May 3
Game 13 - Game 11 Loser vs. Game 12 Winner, 11 am
Game 14 - Championship Game 1 - Game 11 Winner vs. Game 13 Winner, 1 pm
Game 15 - Championship Game 2 - Game 14 Winner vs. Game 14 Loser, 3 pm (if necessary)